Warriors Unseen – The Legal Battle Against Military Asbestos Exposure:
Given its versatility and heat resistance capability, asbestos was once commonly used in military equipment, apparatus, and installations – particularly between the 1930s and 1980s. As a result, military personnel have been at an increased risk for asbestos exposure and asbestos-related injuries for decades. Below, our experienced asbestos lawyers explain the dangers of military asbestos exposure and your legal rights if you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos in the military and gotten sick.
Military Uses for Asbestos
Since the 1930s, the military used asbestos due to its ability to withstand heat and repel corrosion. Your exposure risk depends on which branch of the military you served in. Following are examples of where service men and women may have been exposed.
- Air Force: Radar stations, cockpits, wiring, brakes, adhesives
- Army: Barracks, bases, paint, plumbing systems, gloves
- Marines: Military bases, ships, planes, armored vehicles
- Navy: Boilers, pumps, insulation, paneling, deck covering, adhesive materials, hydraulics, and more.
Who Is Most at Risk?
U.S. Navy veterans were at the highest risk of exposure. Any veteran who served in Korea, Vietnam, or anywhere during WWII is likely to have been exposed. However, all veterans were potentially exposed at some point during their military service.
Risks and Dangers of Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos fibers settle in body tissues – particularly around the lungs and the lining of various organs. Contaminated materials are ingested or asbestos fibers are inhaled in the air. The most significant concern is that asbestos is a known carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer.
Repeated asbestos exposure, or less frequent but high-dose asbestos exposure, can eventually lead to severe injury and death.
Asbestosis: Asbestosis is a severe respiratory disorder that causes breathlessness and affects quality of life:
- Asbestos-related cancer: Asbestos can cause cancer around the body, in organs such as the esophagus, larynx, pharynx, lungs, stomach, testicles, and ovaries.
- Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining around organs, including the heart, stomach, and lungs. Mesothelioma has a very poor prognosis and is typically fatal.
Was I Exposed to Asbestos?
It’s hard to know for sure if you were exposed to asbestos. However, you should consider being tested for exposure if you were in a particularly high-risk military role, such as demolition, milling, shipyards, or mining. Navy service members should also consider testing.
If you have any concerns, ask your doctor about asbestos exposure tests, especially if you have symptoms such as:
- Finger clubbing (broad fingertips that look swollen)
- Breathlessness
- Wheezing
- Cough
- General fatigue or malaise
- Shoulder or chest pain (non-muscular)
Compensation for Military Asbestos Exposure
There are, typically, two ways you may pursue compensation for military asbestos exposure: a civil lawsuit and VA benefits.
Civil Lawsuit
A civil injury claim lets you sue a company or manufacturer for asbestos exposure resulting in injury. It’s a type of personal injury claim; even if the company is now bankrupt, trust funds may be available to claim for you and your family.
VA Benefits
If you have a diagnosed asbestos injury after confirmed contact with asbestos during military service, you could claim VA benefits. You can’t, however, claim these benefits if you have been dishonorably discharged.
You do not need to choose between these paths to justice. You can file a civil lawsuit and claim the VA benefits you’re entitled to. However, there may be time limits for making a claim, and the procedures can be complex. Contact our asbestos lawyers for assistance. Call 888-910-MESO (6376). There is no charge to talk with us.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure: Is Your Family at Risk?
Did you know that secondary asbestos exposure is a primary cause of mesothelioma in women? Secondary exposure occurs when one individual returns home from work and household members inhale asbestos fibers lodged in their uniform, clothes, or other fabrics. Over time, the accumulation can cause asbestos diseases.
Secondary asbestos exposure claims are inherently complex. Contact our attorneys for assistance if you believe you have been injured through indirect exposure.
Get Help from Experienced Military Asbestos Attorneys
Veterans and their loved ones matter to Madeksho Law. Our attorneys are committed to helping you seek the compensation you deserve for asbestos-related injuries and diseases. We’ve been helping victims of asbestos exposure since 1972.
All consultations are free, and we don’t charge our clients anything unless we successfully secure them compensation. There is no risk in contacting us to discuss a potential military asbestos exposure claim. Don’t struggle with asbestos injuries alone. Contact the Madeksho Law Firm by calling 888-910-MESO (6376) or by completing our online form.
